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Imagine tossing a pebble into a pond, and then watching as the ripples spread outward, their effe... more Imagine tossing a pebble into a pond, and then watching as the ripples spread outward, their effects radiating through the still water far beyond where the stone initially splashed. This describes the profound consequences of Israel’s military actions against Hezbollah, which have weakened the group’s military power and created a cascade of shifting dynamics in the Middle East. The most immediate result of Hezbollah’s diminished strength is the opening it has created for other extremist groups to regain ground. Remnants of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Turkish-backed factions – most notably the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its ally, the so-called Syrian National Army (SNA), bearing the ISIS flag on their uniforms in Syria – seized the opportunity to advance further toward Damascus.
With the Assad regime dismantled in Syria, the region’s geopolitical landscape is entering a crit... more With the Assad regime dismantled in Syria, the region’s geopolitical landscape is entering a critical phase. For Israel, this moment demands a strategic shift in alliances, one that prioritizes long-term stability over transient gains. Aligning with the incoming Islamist regime in Syria risks consequences, potentially worse than those posed by Hamas. These groups, rooted in unyielding ideologies, remain consistent in their hostility toward Israel. As the saying goes, “Ideologues seldom change their tune.” Extremist terrorist factions, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and backed by the Islamist Turkey and Qatar, already have been designated as terrorist organizations by the United States. Their origins trace back to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda, and their threat is far from over. Against this backdrop, Rojava—the self-governed Kurdish region in Syria—stands out as a beacon of hope and stability.
This work stands as a seminal contribution, meticulously exploring the legal foundations underpin... more This work stands as a seminal contribution, meticulously exploring the legal foundations underpinning the Kurdish pursuit of self-determination. Radpey conducts an exhaustive examination of the historical, political, and legal facets of the Kurdish struggle, offering a nuanced assessment of the obstacles and possibilities within the realm of international law.
The book commences by situating the Kurdish struggle within the broader context of decolonization and global movements for self-determination. Radpey underscores the distinctive historical and cultural identity of the Kurdish populace, tracing their yearnings for autonomy and nationhood across centuries. From the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire to the aftermath of the First World War and the Treaty of Sèvres, Radpey meticulously dissects the geopolitical dynamics shaping the Kurdish dilemma.
Australian Institute of International Affairs, 2024
In his inaugural address on 10 November 2024, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar emphasised th... more In his inaugural address on 10 November 2024, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar emphasised the importance of forging a “natural alliance” with the Kurdish nation. While not specifying which segment of Kurdistan his office seeks to engage with, the statement raises an important question: how can a sovereign state establish an alliance with a non-state actor?
In 1921, after World War I, the Turkish War of Independence, and the Russian Civil War, the Armen... more In 1921, after World War I, the Turkish War of Independence, and the Russian Civil War, the Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian Soviet republics signed the Treaty of Kars, recognizing each other within the new Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. The Provisional Government—soon Republic—of Turkey signed as well. While not formally a party, Russia played the leading role and also signed. In a gesture to the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, prominent Bolshevik revolutionary Sergei Kirov, decreed Kurdistana Sor (Red Kurdistan, known as Krasnyi Kurdistan) on July 16, 1923, a plan that Joseph Stalin, in his capacity as People’s Commissar of Nationalities, had hinted earlier. In 1926, the official Kurdish population of the Soviet Union was 69,000, almost two-thirds of them in Azerbaijan. The real figures were likely higher because Soviet authorities misrecorded assimilated Kurds as Azeris.
Kurdistan is a unique construct in the Middle East. References to the Karda date back to the seco... more Kurdistan is a unique construct in the Middle East. References to the Karda date back to the second millennium BCE. Moreover, during the Umayyad Empire, chronicles mentioned Kurds and Kurdistan. Later, the Seljuq dynasty created a province, “Kurdistan,” centered near Hamadan in the mid-12th century.
Kurdistan today spills across Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, and the South Caucasus. Despite the lack of a unified, sovereign state, Kurdistan endures in the minds of its people. Over the centuries, but especially in the last hundred years, states have sought to alter demography and erase either the Kurdish presence or identity with forced Persianization, Arabization, and Turkification.
Whether many Western diplomats realize it or not, preferencing the terms of those who subjugate the Kurds and ignoring the terms the Kurds themselves use puts Western policymakers into a straitjacket and too often obscures important dynamics of events and conflicts.
In an October 24 tweet, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz challenged U.N. Secretary-General An... more In an October 24 tweet, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz challenged U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres about his silence toward Turkey’s attacks on Kurdish towns, villages, and economic infrastructure in Iraq and Syria. He asked rhetorically where were the urgent United Nations Security Council action and International Criminal Court complaint against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Katz is right to question the hypocrisy of leaders who jump on allegations of Palestinian genocide but ignore a far longer and deadlier campaign against the region’s Kurds. The question remains whether Katz simply wishes to use Kurds as rhetorical foil or if he is serious about advancing Kurdish rights on the world stage.
In his September 30, 2024, video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the... more In his September 30, 2024, video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people, emphasizing the Persian identity and the geography of the country. This focus was neither coincidental nor unintentional, particularly regarding the distinctions and connections between “Persia” and “Iran.” While this emphasis may evoke historical significance, it also reflects Iran’s century-long political landscape.
As Israel scores victories against Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed militias, the dynamic ... more As Israel scores victories against Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed militias, the dynamic across the Middle East shifts. With Iran’s proxies weakened, Israel no longer needs Turkey as a strategic partner. Sensing the possibility of being sidelined in a new Middle East, Turkey has changed tacks, suddenly offering a dialogue to reach peace with the Kurdish freedom movement. A similar initiative in 2015 failed after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) killed two Turkish policemen, accusing Turkey of colluding with the Islamic State in the Pirsûs (Suruç) bombing, which left more than thirty Kurdish activists dead, and more than a hundred others injured in July 2015. Turks report that they have allowed Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the PKK imprisoned alone on Imrali Island since 1999, to phone PKK commanders on Qandil Mountain in Iraqi Kurdistan. Journalists should not take Turkey’s claims at face value, however. The PKK maintains strict security regarding communications and given Turkey’s drone strikes against PKK leaders on Qandil, phone communication is rare. If the call happened, however, what might explain Turkey’s change of heart?
European Journal of Political Research, The Loop, 2024
As we pass the anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, it is crucial we examine the deeper ro... more As we pass the anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, it is crucial we examine the deeper roots of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The US Freedom Agenda, designed to promote democracy in the region, has instead created instability. Loqman Radpey reveals how misinterpretations of Middle Eastern dynamics pose profound challenges to peace and security. It has now been more than a year since the 7 October Hamas terror attack on Israel. What was the principal motivation of the attackers? Some claim Hamas was motivated solely by regional interests and ideological enmity. But is that really the whole picture, or are other factors at play?
The death of Jina Amini — widely referred to by her imposed Persian name Mahsa in Persian and non... more The death of Jina Amini — widely referred to by her imposed Persian name Mahsa in Persian and non-Persian mainstream media — two years ago ignited a wave of protests in Seqizz, Eastern Kurdistan, that spread across Iran.
While Western media outlets depicted subsequent Iranian repression as a more generalised phenomenon, its primary victims have been ethnic Kurds and Baluchis, hundreds of whom were killed by the regime. Many protesters suffered severe injuries, including those blinded by gunshots. Security forces arrested thousands, subjected many to rape, and others died under torture.
For the Kurdish and Baluchi people, this uprising was not an isolated event but part of a larger historical struggle against the Iranian regime. Neither the United States nor Europe should ignore these two peoples when dealing with Iran.
A year after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the ideological lines are clear. Israel, ... more A year after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the ideological lines are clear. Israel, the only liberal democracy in Rojhilata Navîn (the Middle East), stands alone against regressive forces. The region requires a strategic change to foster stability, promote democratic values, and counter the rise of authoritarianism. The Kurds, with their liberal mindset and commitment to democratic principles, are the key to a viable solution.
Turkey continues to target Kurdish journalists and civilians with drones in Kurdistani segments o... more Turkey continues to target Kurdish journalists and civilians with drones in Kurdistani segments of Syria and Iraq. In response, human rights groups and others have been largely silent. When Myanmar’s junta began slaughtering Rohingya Muslims, Gambia brought a case before the International Court of Justice. In October 2022, the United Nations General Assembly rejected calls to debate China’s genocide against its Uyghur Muslim population. In December 2023, South Africa sought to use the International Court of Justice to compel Israel to stop its operations in the Gaza Strip. Without any sense of irony, Turkey then lent its support to the South African effort. Such inconsistency raises a question: What leads certain states to represent some peoples on the international stage while ignoring others?
The past decade has seen relentless Turkish expansion into Kurdistan. This encroachment has distu... more The past decade has seen relentless Turkish expansion into Kurdistan. This encroachment has disturbing echoes of Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Northern Cyprus — a violation largely ignored by the rest of the world. It is crucial, Loqman Radpey warns, that the international community does not abandon the Kurds in their fight against Turkey’s violations.
Kurdistan is among the world’s most notorious cases of self-determination denied, and why this ou... more Kurdistan is among the world’s most notorious cases of self-determination denied, and why this outcome remains unachieved reveals as much about the biases of international law as it does about the merits of the case for Kurdistan. On the centenary of the Treaty of Lausanne, 24 July 1923, the last of the international instruments establishing the new international order after WWI, this book explores the potential blind spots of international law regarding its differential application in the Middle East. Tracing self-determination over the past century, the work explores how the law applies to Kurdish aspirations and to what extent the Kurds can rely upon the current law of self-determination to achieve internationally recognised statehood. https://www.routledge.com/Towards-an-Independent-Kurdistan-Self-Determination-in-International-Law/Radpey/p/book/9781032543222
Cypriots will mark the 50th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of their island on July 20, 2024. Wh... more Cypriots will mark the 50th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of their island on July 20, 2024. What Turks at the time described as a humanitarian intervention to protect the Cypriot Muslim population was far more accurately an ethnic cleansing campaign with imperial overtones. History now repeats as Turkey uses supposed threats emanating from the South and West of Kurdistan, respectively in Iraq and Syria, to justify renewed military operations and demographic engineering.
The debate over Palestinian statehood is marked by a complex interplay between legal principles a... more The debate over Palestinian statehood is marked by a complex interplay between legal principles and political manoeuvring. While international law sets forth the criteria for statehood, Palestine's unique situation underscores the tension between legal norms and political realities. This article explores the intricacies of state recognition, the principle of self-determination, and the influence of regional dynamics. By examining how political factors often overshadow legal precedence, it provides an analysis of the challenges and prospects for Palestinian sovereignty.
Kurdistan’s overdue parliamentary elections are set to take place on 6 June 2024. Judging by prev... more Kurdistan’s overdue parliamentary elections are set to take place on 6 June 2024. Judging by previous election cycles, however, their occurrence relies on a precarious political balancing act, with unpromising prospects. Kurds across Kurdistan have managed to safeguard stability, security, and thriving economies, standing in stark contrast to the mayhem and violence that characterises the wider region. Yet, creating a democratic island amid the turmoil of the Middle East has been profoundly challenging. Democratic elections are one of the key routes to achieving this objective.
Australian Institute of International Affairs, 2024
The “two-state solution” is often touted as a response to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Could it... more The “two-state solution” is often touted as a response to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Could it be the answer to the Kurdistan issue as well? For many years, the proposed solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict has been the establishment of two separate states, commonly referred to as the two-state solution. This approach aims to foster “regional stability” and achieve “lasting and sustainable peace.” However, if the objective is regional stability and conflict resolution, why restrict the implementation of a two-state solution solely to the Israel-Palestine conflict? Given that the Middle East grapples with numerous significant conflicts, why not also support self-determination in other cases, such as the longstanding desire for an independent Kurdistan?
Imagine tossing a pebble into a pond, and then watching as the ripples spread outward, their effe... more Imagine tossing a pebble into a pond, and then watching as the ripples spread outward, their effects radiating through the still water far beyond where the stone initially splashed. This describes the profound consequences of Israel’s military actions against Hezbollah, which have weakened the group’s military power and created a cascade of shifting dynamics in the Middle East. The most immediate result of Hezbollah’s diminished strength is the opening it has created for other extremist groups to regain ground. Remnants of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and Turkish-backed factions – most notably the terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its ally, the so-called Syrian National Army (SNA), bearing the ISIS flag on their uniforms in Syria – seized the opportunity to advance further toward Damascus.
With the Assad regime dismantled in Syria, the region’s geopolitical landscape is entering a crit... more With the Assad regime dismantled in Syria, the region’s geopolitical landscape is entering a critical phase. For Israel, this moment demands a strategic shift in alliances, one that prioritizes long-term stability over transient gains. Aligning with the incoming Islamist regime in Syria risks consequences, potentially worse than those posed by Hamas. These groups, rooted in unyielding ideologies, remain consistent in their hostility toward Israel. As the saying goes, “Ideologues seldom change their tune.” Extremist terrorist factions, led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and backed by the Islamist Turkey and Qatar, already have been designated as terrorist organizations by the United States. Their origins trace back to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Al-Qaeda, and their threat is far from over. Against this backdrop, Rojava—the self-governed Kurdish region in Syria—stands out as a beacon of hope and stability.
This work stands as a seminal contribution, meticulously exploring the legal foundations underpin... more This work stands as a seminal contribution, meticulously exploring the legal foundations underpinning the Kurdish pursuit of self-determination. Radpey conducts an exhaustive examination of the historical, political, and legal facets of the Kurdish struggle, offering a nuanced assessment of the obstacles and possibilities within the realm of international law.
The book commences by situating the Kurdish struggle within the broader context of decolonization and global movements for self-determination. Radpey underscores the distinctive historical and cultural identity of the Kurdish populace, tracing their yearnings for autonomy and nationhood across centuries. From the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire to the aftermath of the First World War and the Treaty of Sèvres, Radpey meticulously dissects the geopolitical dynamics shaping the Kurdish dilemma.
Australian Institute of International Affairs, 2024
In his inaugural address on 10 November 2024, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar emphasised th... more In his inaugural address on 10 November 2024, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar emphasised the importance of forging a “natural alliance” with the Kurdish nation. While not specifying which segment of Kurdistan his office seeks to engage with, the statement raises an important question: how can a sovereign state establish an alliance with a non-state actor?
In 1921, after World War I, the Turkish War of Independence, and the Russian Civil War, the Armen... more In 1921, after World War I, the Turkish War of Independence, and the Russian Civil War, the Armenian, Azerbaijani, and Georgian Soviet republics signed the Treaty of Kars, recognizing each other within the new Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. The Provisional Government—soon Republic—of Turkey signed as well. While not formally a party, Russia played the leading role and also signed. In a gesture to the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic, prominent Bolshevik revolutionary Sergei Kirov, decreed Kurdistana Sor (Red Kurdistan, known as Krasnyi Kurdistan) on July 16, 1923, a plan that Joseph Stalin, in his capacity as People’s Commissar of Nationalities, had hinted earlier. In 1926, the official Kurdish population of the Soviet Union was 69,000, almost two-thirds of them in Azerbaijan. The real figures were likely higher because Soviet authorities misrecorded assimilated Kurds as Azeris.
Kurdistan is a unique construct in the Middle East. References to the Karda date back to the seco... more Kurdistan is a unique construct in the Middle East. References to the Karda date back to the second millennium BCE. Moreover, during the Umayyad Empire, chronicles mentioned Kurds and Kurdistan. Later, the Seljuq dynasty created a province, “Kurdistan,” centered near Hamadan in the mid-12th century.
Kurdistan today spills across Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, and the South Caucasus. Despite the lack of a unified, sovereign state, Kurdistan endures in the minds of its people. Over the centuries, but especially in the last hundred years, states have sought to alter demography and erase either the Kurdish presence or identity with forced Persianization, Arabization, and Turkification.
Whether many Western diplomats realize it or not, preferencing the terms of those who subjugate the Kurds and ignoring the terms the Kurds themselves use puts Western policymakers into a straitjacket and too often obscures important dynamics of events and conflicts.
In an October 24 tweet, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz challenged U.N. Secretary-General An... more In an October 24 tweet, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz challenged U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres about his silence toward Turkey’s attacks on Kurdish towns, villages, and economic infrastructure in Iraq and Syria. He asked rhetorically where were the urgent United Nations Security Council action and International Criminal Court complaint against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Katz is right to question the hypocrisy of leaders who jump on allegations of Palestinian genocide but ignore a far longer and deadlier campaign against the region’s Kurds. The question remains whether Katz simply wishes to use Kurds as rhetorical foil or if he is serious about advancing Kurdish rights on the world stage.
In his September 30, 2024, video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the... more In his September 30, 2024, video message, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people, emphasizing the Persian identity and the geography of the country. This focus was neither coincidental nor unintentional, particularly regarding the distinctions and connections between “Persia” and “Iran.” While this emphasis may evoke historical significance, it also reflects Iran’s century-long political landscape.
As Israel scores victories against Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed militias, the dynamic ... more As Israel scores victories against Hamas, Hezbollah, and other Iran-backed militias, the dynamic across the Middle East shifts. With Iran’s proxies weakened, Israel no longer needs Turkey as a strategic partner. Sensing the possibility of being sidelined in a new Middle East, Turkey has changed tacks, suddenly offering a dialogue to reach peace with the Kurdish freedom movement. A similar initiative in 2015 failed after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) killed two Turkish policemen, accusing Turkey of colluding with the Islamic State in the Pirsûs (Suruç) bombing, which left more than thirty Kurdish activists dead, and more than a hundred others injured in July 2015. Turks report that they have allowed Abdullah Öcalan, the leader of the PKK imprisoned alone on Imrali Island since 1999, to phone PKK commanders on Qandil Mountain in Iraqi Kurdistan. Journalists should not take Turkey’s claims at face value, however. The PKK maintains strict security regarding communications and given Turkey’s drone strikes against PKK leaders on Qandil, phone communication is rare. If the call happened, however, what might explain Turkey’s change of heart?
European Journal of Political Research, The Loop, 2024
As we pass the anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, it is crucial we examine the deeper ro... more As we pass the anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks, it is crucial we examine the deeper roots of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The US Freedom Agenda, designed to promote democracy in the region, has instead created instability. Loqman Radpey reveals how misinterpretations of Middle Eastern dynamics pose profound challenges to peace and security. It has now been more than a year since the 7 October Hamas terror attack on Israel. What was the principal motivation of the attackers? Some claim Hamas was motivated solely by regional interests and ideological enmity. But is that really the whole picture, or are other factors at play?
The death of Jina Amini — widely referred to by her imposed Persian name Mahsa in Persian and non... more The death of Jina Amini — widely referred to by her imposed Persian name Mahsa in Persian and non-Persian mainstream media — two years ago ignited a wave of protests in Seqizz, Eastern Kurdistan, that spread across Iran.
While Western media outlets depicted subsequent Iranian repression as a more generalised phenomenon, its primary victims have been ethnic Kurds and Baluchis, hundreds of whom were killed by the regime. Many protesters suffered severe injuries, including those blinded by gunshots. Security forces arrested thousands, subjected many to rape, and others died under torture.
For the Kurdish and Baluchi people, this uprising was not an isolated event but part of a larger historical struggle against the Iranian regime. Neither the United States nor Europe should ignore these two peoples when dealing with Iran.
A year after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the ideological lines are clear. Israel, ... more A year after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the ideological lines are clear. Israel, the only liberal democracy in Rojhilata Navîn (the Middle East), stands alone against regressive forces. The region requires a strategic change to foster stability, promote democratic values, and counter the rise of authoritarianism. The Kurds, with their liberal mindset and commitment to democratic principles, are the key to a viable solution.
Turkey continues to target Kurdish journalists and civilians with drones in Kurdistani segments o... more Turkey continues to target Kurdish journalists and civilians with drones in Kurdistani segments of Syria and Iraq. In response, human rights groups and others have been largely silent. When Myanmar’s junta began slaughtering Rohingya Muslims, Gambia brought a case before the International Court of Justice. In October 2022, the United Nations General Assembly rejected calls to debate China’s genocide against its Uyghur Muslim population. In December 2023, South Africa sought to use the International Court of Justice to compel Israel to stop its operations in the Gaza Strip. Without any sense of irony, Turkey then lent its support to the South African effort. Such inconsistency raises a question: What leads certain states to represent some peoples on the international stage while ignoring others?
The past decade has seen relentless Turkish expansion into Kurdistan. This encroachment has distu... more The past decade has seen relentless Turkish expansion into Kurdistan. This encroachment has disturbing echoes of Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Northern Cyprus — a violation largely ignored by the rest of the world. It is crucial, Loqman Radpey warns, that the international community does not abandon the Kurds in their fight against Turkey’s violations.
Kurdistan is among the world’s most notorious cases of self-determination denied, and why this ou... more Kurdistan is among the world’s most notorious cases of self-determination denied, and why this outcome remains unachieved reveals as much about the biases of international law as it does about the merits of the case for Kurdistan. On the centenary of the Treaty of Lausanne, 24 July 1923, the last of the international instruments establishing the new international order after WWI, this book explores the potential blind spots of international law regarding its differential application in the Middle East. Tracing self-determination over the past century, the work explores how the law applies to Kurdish aspirations and to what extent the Kurds can rely upon the current law of self-determination to achieve internationally recognised statehood. https://www.routledge.com/Towards-an-Independent-Kurdistan-Self-Determination-in-International-Law/Radpey/p/book/9781032543222
Cypriots will mark the 50th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of their island on July 20, 2024. Wh... more Cypriots will mark the 50th anniversary of Turkey's invasion of their island on July 20, 2024. What Turks at the time described as a humanitarian intervention to protect the Cypriot Muslim population was far more accurately an ethnic cleansing campaign with imperial overtones. History now repeats as Turkey uses supposed threats emanating from the South and West of Kurdistan, respectively in Iraq and Syria, to justify renewed military operations and demographic engineering.
The debate over Palestinian statehood is marked by a complex interplay between legal principles a... more The debate over Palestinian statehood is marked by a complex interplay between legal principles and political manoeuvring. While international law sets forth the criteria for statehood, Palestine's unique situation underscores the tension between legal norms and political realities. This article explores the intricacies of state recognition, the principle of self-determination, and the influence of regional dynamics. By examining how political factors often overshadow legal precedence, it provides an analysis of the challenges and prospects for Palestinian sovereignty.
Kurdistan’s overdue parliamentary elections are set to take place on 6 June 2024. Judging by prev... more Kurdistan’s overdue parliamentary elections are set to take place on 6 June 2024. Judging by previous election cycles, however, their occurrence relies on a precarious political balancing act, with unpromising prospects. Kurds across Kurdistan have managed to safeguard stability, security, and thriving economies, standing in stark contrast to the mayhem and violence that characterises the wider region. Yet, creating a democratic island amid the turmoil of the Middle East has been profoundly challenging. Democratic elections are one of the key routes to achieving this objective.
Australian Institute of International Affairs, 2024
The “two-state solution” is often touted as a response to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Could it... more The “two-state solution” is often touted as a response to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Could it be the answer to the Kurdistan issue as well? For many years, the proposed solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict has been the establishment of two separate states, commonly referred to as the two-state solution. This approach aims to foster “regional stability” and achieve “lasting and sustainable peace.” However, if the objective is regional stability and conflict resolution, why restrict the implementation of a two-state solution solely to the Israel-Palestine conflict? Given that the Middle East grapples with numerous significant conflicts, why not also support self-determination in other cases, such as the longstanding desire for an independent Kurdistan?
In Iran protestieren die Menschen seit bald drei Monaten gegen die Regierung. Besonders engagiert... more In Iran protestieren die Menschen seit bald drei Monaten gegen die Regierung. Besonders engagiert sind die Minderheiten, allen voran Kurdinnen und Kurden. Deshalb geht das iranische Regime in kurdischen Gebieten mit besonderer Härte gegen die Protestierenden vor.
In Iran, people have been protesting against the government for almost three months. The minorities, especially Kurds, are particularly committed. That is why the Iranian regime is taking particularly harsh action against the protesters in Kurdish regions.
Kurdistan is among the world’s most notorious cases of self-determination denied, and why this ou... more Kurdistan is among the world’s most notorious cases of self-determination denied, and why this outcome remains unachieved reveals as much about the biases of international law as it does about the merits of the case for Kurdistan. On the centenary of the Treaty of Lausanne, 24 July 1923, the last of the international instruments establishing the new international order after WWI, this book explores the potential blind spots of international law regarding its differential application in the Middle East. Tracing self-determination over the past century, the work explores how the law applies to Kurdish aspirations and to what extent the Kurds can rely upon the current law of self-determination to achieve internationally recognised statehood.
The Kurds are the largest ethnic group to lack their own nationstate.
Many scholars and diplomat... more The Kurds are the largest ethnic group to lack their own nationstate.
Many scholars and diplomats make the moral or historical cases for Kurdish independence. None, however, has taken as deep a dive into what evolving international law with regard to self-determination might mean for Kurds as Loqman Radpey, who recently completed his Ph.D. in international law on the subject at the University of Edinburgh.
Towards an Independent Kurdistan is timely. Whatever the considerations that keep states from embracing the Kurdish nationalist cause, the reality on the ground sets precedents and forces reconsideration. Not only have Iraqi Kurds enjoyed de facto autonomy for more than 30 years, but Syrian Kurds have also run their own de facto statelet for a decade.
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Papers by Loqman Radpey
The book commences by situating the Kurdish struggle within the broader context of decolonization and global movements for self-determination. Radpey underscores the distinctive historical and cultural identity of the Kurdish populace, tracing their yearnings for autonomy and nationhood across centuries. From the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire to the aftermath of the First World War and the Treaty of Sèvres, Radpey meticulously dissects the geopolitical dynamics shaping the Kurdish dilemma.
Kurdistan today spills across Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, and the South Caucasus. Despite the lack of a unified, sovereign state, Kurdistan endures in the minds of its people. Over the centuries, but especially in the last hundred years, states have sought to alter demography and erase either the Kurdish presence or identity with forced Persianization, Arabization, and Turkification.
Whether many Western diplomats realize it or not, preferencing the terms of those who subjugate the Kurds and ignoring the terms the Kurds themselves use puts Western policymakers into a straitjacket and too often obscures important dynamics of events and conflicts.
While Western media outlets depicted subsequent Iranian repression as a more generalised phenomenon, its primary victims have been ethnic Kurds and Baluchis, hundreds of whom were killed by the regime. Many protesters suffered severe injuries, including those blinded by gunshots. Security forces arrested thousands, subjected many to rape, and others died under torture.
For the Kurdish and Baluchi people, this uprising was not an isolated event but part of a larger historical struggle against the Iranian regime. Neither the United States nor Europe should ignore these two peoples when dealing with Iran.
The book commences by situating the Kurdish struggle within the broader context of decolonization and global movements for self-determination. Radpey underscores the distinctive historical and cultural identity of the Kurdish populace, tracing their yearnings for autonomy and nationhood across centuries. From the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire to the aftermath of the First World War and the Treaty of Sèvres, Radpey meticulously dissects the geopolitical dynamics shaping the Kurdish dilemma.
Kurdistan today spills across Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, and the South Caucasus. Despite the lack of a unified, sovereign state, Kurdistan endures in the minds of its people. Over the centuries, but especially in the last hundred years, states have sought to alter demography and erase either the Kurdish presence or identity with forced Persianization, Arabization, and Turkification.
Whether many Western diplomats realize it or not, preferencing the terms of those who subjugate the Kurds and ignoring the terms the Kurds themselves use puts Western policymakers into a straitjacket and too often obscures important dynamics of events and conflicts.
While Western media outlets depicted subsequent Iranian repression as a more generalised phenomenon, its primary victims have been ethnic Kurds and Baluchis, hundreds of whom were killed by the regime. Many protesters suffered severe injuries, including those blinded by gunshots. Security forces arrested thousands, subjected many to rape, and others died under torture.
For the Kurdish and Baluchi people, this uprising was not an isolated event but part of a larger historical struggle against the Iranian regime. Neither the United States nor Europe should ignore these two peoples when dealing with Iran.
In Iran, people have been protesting against the government for almost three months. The minorities, especially Kurds, are particularly committed. That is why the Iranian regime is taking particularly harsh action against the protesters in Kurdish regions.
https://www.routledge.com/Towards-an-Independent-Kurdistan-Self-Determination-in-International-Law/Radpey/p/book/9781032543222
Many scholars and diplomats make the moral or historical cases for Kurdish independence. None, however, has taken as deep a dive into what evolving international law with regard to self-determination might mean for Kurds as Loqman Radpey, who recently completed his Ph.D. in international law on the subject at the University of Edinburgh.
Towards an Independent Kurdistan is timely. Whatever the considerations that keep states from embracing the Kurdish nationalist cause, the reality on the ground sets precedents and forces reconsideration. Not only have Iraqi Kurds enjoyed de facto autonomy for more than 30 years, but Syrian Kurds have also run their own de facto statelet for a decade.